The Terrible Tome
Commissioned by Simo Paulakoski for the upcoming feature film "Into the town of Madness".
Showcase photographs by Daniel Johansson.
Showcase photographs by Daniel Johansson.
The Terrible Tome Build Log
So we agreed that the book should look old and strange, that's a no-brainer right? Talking it through we decided that it should have once started out as a fairly innocuous looking thing and that the weirdness should emanate from it being owned, handled, repaired and attempted destroyed by several people through the years.
Putting it simply; Person A would find the book in say 1650, read it, go insane and then try to disperse it. Failing this s/he would write a warning or something on the binding before jumping off a cliff. Then person B would find it in A's house, read it, go insane, try to burn it but fail, carve a warning or something and then get forcibly admitted to the asylum, whereupon person C would find it-. Etcetera.
So that's what I was going for here. Layers and layers of different designs and origins jumbling together in what is hopefully something of a story in itself.
Light box on thumbnails for captions, or use the gallery.
So we agreed that the book should look old and strange, that's a no-brainer right? Talking it through we decided that it should have once started out as a fairly innocuous looking thing and that the weirdness should emanate from it being owned, handled, repaired and attempted destroyed by several people through the years.
Putting it simply; Person A would find the book in say 1650, read it, go insane and then try to disperse it. Failing this s/he would write a warning or something on the binding before jumping off a cliff. Then person B would find it in A's house, read it, go insane, try to burn it but fail, carve a warning or something and then get forcibly admitted to the asylum, whereupon person C would find it-. Etcetera.
So that's what I was going for here. Layers and layers of different designs and origins jumbling together in what is hopefully something of a story in itself.
Light box on thumbnails for captions, or use the gallery.
Mostly papier maché, some sculpting, lots of paint and little dabs of fabrics.
Finding the right brackets and chains took longer time than designing and making the vile thing. Metal parts were bathed in acids, boiled in vinegar, left home alone over christmas, etc. Some blood stains were thrown around, and when I accidentally cut myself, I generously donated a drop of the real thing for good measure. Scorchings with propane pen, kicked the whole book around in the gravel for awhile, you know: the usual. A genuine antique padlock was acquired from my brother.
Finding the right brackets and chains took longer time than designing and making the vile thing. Metal parts were bathed in acids, boiled in vinegar, left home alone over christmas, etc. Some blood stains were thrown around, and when I accidentally cut myself, I generously donated a drop of the real thing for good measure. Scorchings with propane pen, kicked the whole book around in the gravel for awhile, you know: the usual. A genuine antique padlock was acquired from my brother.
Then my good friend Daniel Johansson (who also happens to be the photographer for the film in question) kindly helped me out with a little photo session of the finished product. I also happened to have a restraint jacket available at the time, so why not?
I don't mind doing a little modelling now and then.
I don't mind doing a little modelling now and then.
And just because I found it amusing, I whipped up this little parcel slip upon delivery.
If you're into paper props and could use one of these for your roleplaying weekend or something, feel free to download and print it out. Basic photoshop skills needed. Get it here.
If you're into paper props and could use one of these for your roleplaying weekend or something, feel free to download and print it out. Basic photoshop skills needed. Get it here.
All in all, this was a very fun project and I hope to do similar things in the future.
Mr. Paulakoski was very satisfied, and so was I.
Mr. Paulakoski was very satisfied, and so was I.